Blancher



Feb. is, 1923. M4527@ O. H. HANSEN BLANCHER Filed Jan. 15', 1921 2 sheets-sheet l Imm/ENTER ATTERN Elx/ BLANCHER Filed Jan. 15, 1921 z sheets-sheet 2 v ml www

A T'Tm mgm EY Patented Feb. i3, i923.

rarisur OSWALD H. HANSEN, F PUES? /'ASHING'DGBL VSCONSEN, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'E0 HANSEN CANTNG- VIACHINERY CORPORATION, A COR- PORATION Uli? WISCONSEN.

BLANCHER.

Application filed January 15, 1921. Serial No.` 437,526.

To @ZZ zo/wm it may concern.'

Be it known that )sw'atn H. HANSEN, a -citizenet the United States, residing at l ort Washir ou, in the errantiY ot @nautico and State oit' Wisconsin, has invented. a certain new and useful Blancher, of which the ioliowing is a specication.

This invention relates in general to improvemems inthe art of treating edible substances such as fruits and vegetables prior to packing' them in sealed containers, and relates more speciiicalliT to improvements in the construction and operation of blanchers l tor treat ig green peas or similar granular commodity, preparatory to pac-hing and sealing` the saine in cans. i

i general object of the invention is to provide a blaneher which is simple and compact in constructionand which is automatic 2O und etiicient in operation.

lt has been found in theindustry ot paciingvor canning vegetables such as green peas5 where the grade and quality of the peas as delivered to the canning factory vary throughout a considerable range, that a relatively uniform and high. qualityl oi' pack is attainable onlyv `by careful and eiiicient blanchine` of the commodity prior to packing; it in the cans. The operation ot blanching comprises thorough washing and heating oi the product for a period of time which must varied in accordance with the characteristics of the peas which are to be treated. Small and naturally tender-peas require littlc treatmt and are blanched merely to remove mucinous substances and coloring matter 'which mioht produce undesirablv roily liquor. ln proportion to the size and hardr rf of the peas, greater degree or longer d et blanc.A ig becomes necessary, in

, in addition to removing mucinous substances andl coloring' matter, to el `itter substances and to produce uniform tenderness. @ver-blanchingr is however, un-

desirable as it ca ises the peas to burst due to the expansion oif starch therein, thus makingperfect hlanch the only method of producing; uniform 'and high grae s, product.

`@ne of the more specific objects ot the present invention is to provide blancher which wili produce more uniform and higher `grade product than hasbeen attainable with the prior devices, by enabling` more thorough and eficient treatment of the granular suhstance or peas.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly compact automatic blanching device having enormous capacity.

A further specific object of the invention if* to provide means whereby the interior of a blancher may be readily maintained in sanitaryv condition, such :means consisting of the provision of a structure in which internal parts are accessible and removable for cleaning and sterilizing.

in additional specific object of the invention is to provide a blanching machine which may.7 be manufactured, installed and operated at minimum cost, and which may be quicklv assembled and dismantled.

Still another speciiic object oi the invention is to provide for the conservation of heat in blanching and like heating apparatus, by providing); instrumentalities for utilizing the excess heat units contained in the blanching` agency discharged from the machine to preliminarily heat the entering agency,

These and other objects and advantages of the blaucher forming; the subject of the present invention, will be apparent in the course oit the following description, wherein the term peas is intended to be descriptive of an;7 commodity having characteristics similar to those of green pees.

A clear conception of an embodiment of the invention and of the operation of a device constructed in accordance therewith, may be had by referring to the cre-wings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic part sectional side elevation of a blancher for the like.

2 is ay somewhat diagrammatic part sectional end elevation ot a blancher for peas and the like, the section beinetaken along` the line Il-H of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

rlhe blanching machine comprises in `general a main casing 2, a hopper l0 for delivering granular material such as peas te `@ated in the chan'ibei one end ot the casing` 2, a rotor having radiating; `Janes 8 'for delivering' the granular material from the opposite end olI the casing 2, and means within the cash 'j' 2 for siniulw taneoiisly rapidlv urging' the .nater'ial along the L ing' and for thoroughly but gently agitatu it during?r its transportation.

The casingl E2 preferably has a bottom oil seinicylind al Yform and is provided with a 'fresh tion of the granular niaterial discharge end, and with a- Water outlet 13' nea-i" the upper `portion ot the granular material inlet end thereof, The top` oil the casing' 2 is preferably provided with a readili7 removable cover 9 iiiliich n'iay be termed l" ther ol one 'piece amill secured to the oasiiig` by niieans oli' clamps 2l, or which be split along the center and the tivo 'l ed to the upper edges of the casino; cover 9 permits ready access to all portions of the chamber 21 Within the casino' The granular material supply bonner 1l) is 'preteiablr secured to an end of the casing' 2 and l therein a rotory agitator 19 for preventing bridging); of the peas across the hopper 10. The hopper 10 communicates ivitli the interior ot' the casing 2 through an opening 22 located' nea' the ton ol the casing; 2. 'fllhe fiiianular material discharge rotor formed by 'the radiatii'1,

vanes` S, secured to the end yet' a shalt T which is mounted in bearings secured to the cover 9.` The `shaltv T is provided with rel/easing; coupling for permitting the cover 9 to heraised without disturbing' the hopper 10. The rotor vane-s 8 are reif'oluble uf'ithin a. cylindrical lioi'inontallj,v split cas- 18.. the upper halt ot Whichlis secured to and movable Wit-li `the cover, and the lower halt ot which is 'fastened toV the end ot the staticnary` VIasingg` 2. The interior of the casing; 18 communicatesiwith the interior ot the casing' 2 through a semi-rircular opening -l-(l at the unpei discharge end ol: the casing' 2. The lraduiting vanos 8 which ni be perforated in order to nre-vent discha-rnj ot liquid from the chamber' 21,. are adapted toireceive l`Qjranulair materia-l t'ii'oni the interior oil the casinav `lo ele 'atc the granular inateriah and to Afinally d liver the Itreated material troni the machine through a discharge spout The a-o'itatina and transporting mean44 loot' the casing' 2. con'iprises a sectional nerlmfatcd` cylindrical drum 3 having; opposite onen ends. one or more helical vanos l1 having" outer odn'cs closelg7 tilting; the interior oit the drinn L nu impertorate cc.V ral druniflcoal-tiny; with the inner edges olt the helical vanes l1, a helical seriesl oit elevating' and transportinp; vanos 6 connecting the I; recessive helices the vanes 11,4anelevatingY dischabn-ingV levice at the discharge end of t e drinn 3", and allori/2bn- Wfter inlet 3l near the lower por' tal shaft secured to the cent-ral drum 1. The perfor-ated cylindrical drinn 8 is prei erably iforn'ieffl in hall'l sections `which are {ir-mlbV united by means ot quick release clamps so that the sections otthe drum may be vrapidly removed. 'lhe helical rance' 11 may be perforated. il desired, but as disclosed are mper'iorate and extend 'from the inlet end o the drum 3 up to the elevatingand discharging device at the on positedruin end. These helical vanos 11 torni one or incre continuous helical chambers extending' longitudinally ot the drum 3. lThe central drinn of a. length sulistajntially` equal to that ofthe outer drinn 3, the two drinne being concentric relatively to each other and being` simultaneousljT ro tatable by means ot the shaft 5. rl`he elevating and transporting Janes 6 are inclined longitudinally @t thedrnms 3, las indicated in Figfl, and are substantially tangent to the inner drum l asjindicated in Fig. 2. These varies 6 are spaced from the inner surface. of the drum.' 3 a slight amount but are located a considerable distance away from the central drum l. The elevating and discharging' devicey located at the dis charge end ot' the drums 3, 4 comprises an annular series oi: noclets formed by inclined plates or vanos 32, the end 2G o'j the helical vane 11, and a flange `Sli secured either to the drum 3 orto the ends ol vanes The :initiating and transp'ortirg` rotoi1 substantiallji.r submerged in the liquid B5 Within the cl'ianiber 21. rlhe rotor shalt 5 is ro tat-able from any7 convenient source and is mounted in bearings' 39 secured to the opnos'site'` ends of the casing` 2. The shafts 5l 7 are parallel to each otherand are driving'ljT connected in. any suitable manner by a belt 17 and pulleys 16, or by means ci toothed or chain gearing. The rotation o' the sha 5. Y .is nreieral'ilv as indicated by thc arrows in Fig. lt is also obvious that the.drivingr means for the rotor vanos S may be located at the discharge end of the machine instead of at the inlet end thereolA The main casing; 2 preferably acheted by meansA ot a chamber 1'2 to which a heating agent such as steam may be admitted andI exhausted throurfh pines The ja'cletinn chamber g af drain' F23 confrrmi i 4 The overtl ci h Water outlet preferably coinn'uinicate y'ith heating' pipe or coil 28 which passes bron-gh a l'ieatino; chamber The fresh "iter admitted to the blanchcr is admitted to the chamber F29 through a nlpe 30 and afl'ter flowingn in con tact with the heating coil 28', is admitted to the chamber 21 through the opening' 31.

During the normal operation nl blaiiclier, rotary motion is beinmr inna the shafts 5 7 to produce rotar;7 motion or ai ft 'tin the' chamber 21, of are agitator 19 and ot the discharge rotor varies '8, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The

. descend through the Washing and blanching` Ill) product;

liquid 35 to the bottom ot the drum 3. .The

advancing revolving vaines 6 pick up batches ot the peas thus deposited at the bott-om oit' the drinn 3 and simultaneously elevato and `transport tlien'i longitudinally oit the drum,

the extent ot such transportation being limited by the adjacent helix or' the vane 11. When the peas le have been elevated by the upwardly moving vanes 6, as shown in Fig. 2, they are gradually showered or casca-ded `through the liouid 35 within the helical 'chamber 20.

fis the falling peas move downwardly they are further advanced by the helical vanes 1l until they againreach the bottom of the` drum 3 whereupon they are again elevated and subsequently cascaded through the liquid until they` eventually reach the elevatingand discliarping device at the end ot the blanching rotor. Upon reaching` the helix end 36, the peas la are dropped into the elevatingY pockets Whereupon the revolving vanes 32 lii't them and deliver them above the shaft 5 into the path of travel of the revolving vanes 8. The

vanes 8 elevate thepeas Within the casing 18 and ultimately deliver them from` the machine through the discharge spout The peasv 14C are thus simultaneously transported rapidly'through the machine and thoroughly treated, the operation automatically continuinp` :is long" as peas 14 are delivered to and fromthe teed hopper l0. i

By ,intermittently elevating and showering f' the peas lithrough the Washing' and blanching` liquid with the aid otthe vanes 6, absolutely uni'lorm and highly eflicient treatment is attained. This manner ot treat- `ment or theI peas, also enablesreduction of the machine' to minimum length due to the `intimate contact of the peas and liquid,tbuis requiring less door space than necessary ivith the machines ot the prior art. The desired period ot Washingand blanching is readily secured by varying the speed of ro tation ot the shaft 5 to suit the condition or characteristics ot the productv under treatment. The vanos 6, ll etl'ect rapid transportation otthe peas along; the drinn` 3 vvhile the spacing' ot the vanos 6 trom the ilrinn i5 positively eliminates injury ot the This space adjacent to the outer edges oi the vanos (i, permits the peas Which might otherwise tend to stick between the vane and the drum 3, to roll freely alongy the ,ers

' chamber.` a drum rotate Y Vbe obvious that thel greater part of the achine may be formed of sheet metal, and that the parts which engage the product may bo enameled or otherwise coated in order to assist maintainance of sanitary conditions. The machine as a Whole requires very little power for its operation, and is entirely automatic after having been properly started.

By suitably controlling` the steam admit ted to the jaclieting;` chamber l2 surrounding.- the bottom oic the blancher, the Washing and blanching liquid 35 may be readily maintained at any desired temperature. The hot liquid leaving the blancher is passed t irough the hea-ting coil 28 thereby preliminar-ly heating t v1e entering liquid and eliminating,` waste of the heat units contained in the liquid leaving the ovcrlioiv 18. The chamber E26) may lie provi/risul with suitable iiiiiilcs. which compel the liquid admitied through. the inlet 8() .to floiv along the heating coil 28 thus reducing,Y the temperature oil the leaving liquid to substantially that of the entering liquid.

Due to the relatively diagrammatic disclosure ot the invention, it must be obvious that many minor details have been omitted, such omission havingd been deeu'ied desirable in order to avoid complicatinnv the disclosure. lt should be understood that it is not desired to limit the -iventiou to the exact details ot construction and of operation hercin shown and describedu for obvious inodilications Within the scope oi the claims may occur to persons slrilled in the art.

` It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent l. in combination,

helical inem Y drum. and elevating vanos connecting; the successive helices of said membern said varies .being spaced 'from the inner surtai-'c oil said chamber, and helical series of elevating vaines reif'oluble thror'igh said liquid about an argh; extending' longitudinally of said chamber, said venes being' adaoted to precipitate material over their inner and outer edges.

Il. ln combination, a casing forming a chainbe.l means for admitting liquid to said chamber, a drum rotatable in said liquid, means for feeding granular material into said drum, means for urging said material throi'igh said drum, means for delivering said material from said drum above the axis thereof, and means for discharging material delivered from said drinn from said casing above Jdie highest portion of said drum.

ln combination, a casing forming a chamber, means for admitting liquid'to said chamber, a rotary drum substantially submerged within said liquid, means for feeding granular material into said drum, means for uring said material along. said drum, means for delivering said materialffromsaid drum above the airis of rotation thereof, and means 'for discharging material delivered from said drum from said casing above the liigl'iest portion of said drum.

6. .in combination, a casingformi'ng i chamber, means for admitting liquid to said chamber, a drum rotatable in said liquid, a helical member and transverse vanes for urging grai'iular material along said drum, means 'for delivering said material from said drum above the airis thereof, and means for disch-arising` material delivered from said drum from said casing above the highest portion of said drum.

7. In combination, a casing forming a chamber^ a drum rotatable in said chamber, means for feeding `granular material into said drum. elevating vanes rotatable about the axis of said drum for delivering said material from said drum above the anis thereof, and a series of elevatinz''vanes rotatable about an axis located above the axis of said drum for discharging material delivered from said drum from said casing above the' highest portion of said drum.

8. In combination, a casingl forming a chamber, means for admitting liquid to said chamber, a rotary drum substantially submerged in Ysaid liquid, iiiieans for feeding granular material into said drum, elevating vanes rotatable with said drum for deliver ing said material from said drum above the axis thereof, and series of elevating vanes rotatable about an anis located above the a, is of said drum for discharging material delivered from said. drum from said casing above the level of liquid therein.

9. In combination, a casing forming a chamber, a perforated cylindrical drum rotatable Within said chamber, and a helical series of elevating vanes rotatable with said drum, said v'anes being` spaced from the inner' surface' of said drum.

l0. ln combinatioma casing forming a chamber, drum rotatable `Within said cha-mber, and helical series of elevating varies within saidv drum, each of said vanes being spaced from said `drum and inclined relatively to the of rotation `of said drum.

ll. ln combination, a casing forming a chamber, a perforated drum rotatable Within said chamber, and a helical series of inclined elevating vaines Within,v said drum, said vanes being spaced fromthe inner surface of said drum.

12. In combination, a casing forming a chamber, a perforated tubular member rotatable Within said chamber, and a succession of inclined elevating vanes Within said member, said vanesl being` spaced from the inner surface of said member and being adapted to urge material from one endof said member toward the other.

13. ln combination, casing forming a chamber, a sectional drum rotatable and enclosed Within' said chamber, and a helical member ivithin said drum; said member being freely removable upon removal of aI section of said drum.V

lll, In combination, a blancher rotor comprising a perforated drum formed of halves, means for urging material along the drum, means for removing one of said drum halves to permit-access to saidurging means, and means for rotatably supporting said drum l5. InE combination, a blancher rotor comprising a` perforated drum, and a helical series of elevating` vanos secured to and spaced from said drum, said vanes being inclined relatively tothe airisV of said drum and eX- tending longitudinally thereof. o

16. In combination', a blancher rotor comprising a perforated drum,- a helical member located ivithin said drum, and a series of elevating vanes supported only by the successive helices of said member.

`17'. In combination, ablanclier rotor comprising` a perforated drum, and` a helical series of elevating' vanes ivithin saliddrum, said` vanes'being" spaced from the interior surface of said drum.

1S. In combination, a casing, a rotor With-` in said casing, means for feeding granular material to the interior of said rotor, and means for effecting access to all portions of said rotor without disturbing ,said feeding means. Y

1'9. ln combination, a casing, arotor'v'vithin said casing", means for feeding granular material to said rotor, al` second rotor for delivering said material from said first mentioned rotor, and means for simultaneously effecting access to said lirst mentioned rotor 'and removal of said second rotor.

20. In combination, a casing', means for substantially filling said casi-ng with liquid, means for admitting granular material to an upper portion of said casing, and means for delivering said granular' material from Within said easing to a point above the same Without removing liquid from said casing.

2l. In combination, a easing, means for substantially Filling` said casing with liquid, means 'for admitting granular material to an upper portion of said casing, means `for simultaneously cascading said material through said liquid and for urging the ma terial from end to end of said casing, and means for delivering said material from Within said casing at a point above and Without removing said liquid.

22. ln combination, a casing, means for admitting' liquid to said casing, means for heating said liquid Within said casing, and means for utilizing the heated `liquid delivered from said casing to preliminarily heat the entering liquid.

28. In combination, a easing, means for admitting liquid to said casing, means for urging granular material through the liquid Within said easing, and means for utilizing liquid discharged trom said casing to preliminarily heat the liquid admitted to said casing.

24:. In combination, a casing, means for substantiallj7 iilling` said casing with liquid7 means ior showering and ttor urgingl ma 1erial through said liquid, means tor heating the liquid ivi, iin said casing., and means tor utilizing liquid discharged from said casing to heat the liquid admitted thereto.

25. ln combination7 a casing' substantiallg7 filled with liquid, a helical transporting member substantially completely submerged Within said liquid. elevating vanes located between successive ilights ot said helical member, means for deliif'ering` granular ma terial into the path oit sai-d flights, and means for discharging said material from said path to a point above the level of said liquid.

ln testimony whereof. the signature o'l' the inventor is atired hereto.

OSNALD H. HANSEN. 

